Direction de la Science, de la technologie et de l'innovation
New perspectives on measuring cybersecurity
Measuring the various aspects of cybersecurity across countries is challenging, in
part because the actors in the cybersecurity ecosystem often do not have the incentives
to share key data. At the same time, people, firms and governments need to feel secure
to communicate online and use Internet-based services. This statistical report provides
an overview of how cybersecurity is being measured across a variety of data sources
and using different methodological approaches. Beginning with a checklist of measurement
considerations, the report then discusses existing data from official and non-official
sources, identifying when each data source is most useful. The report then provides
two proofs of concepts for measuring uncertainty related to cyber risks, or “cybersecurity
uncertainty”. Measuring such uncertainty can complement existing statistics and help
anticipate emerging cybersecurity trends, develop more targeted cybersecurity awareness
programmes, and promote a more secure and resilient digital ecosystem.